A former federation (1910-1958) of French territories in west-central Africa comprising the present-day countries of Chad, Gabon, Congo, and Central African Republic.
French Equatorial Africa
| Dictionary: French Equatorial Africa |
A former federation (1910-1958) of French territories in west-central Africa comprising the present-day countries of Chad, Gabon, Congo, and Central African Republic.
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| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: French Equatorial Africa |
For more information on French Equatorial Africa, visit Britannica.com.
| Columbia Encyclopedia: French Equatorial Africa |
French Equatorial Africa, former French federation in W central Africa. It consisted of four constituent territories: Gabon, Middle Congo (see Congo, Republic of the), Chad, and Ubangi-Shari (now the Central African Republic). The capital was Brazzaville. The federation was formed in large part through the efforts of Savorgnan de Brazza, who forged the link between French possessions in the Congo basin and those in W Africa. French Equatorial Africa (originally called French Congo) was officially established in 1910. Until 1920, Chad and Ubangi-Shari were a single territory. The federation was ruled by a governor-general, resident in Brazzaville, who had a deputy in each of the four territories. About 100,000 sq mi (259,000 sq km) were ceded to Germany as a result of the Agadir crisis (1911) but were returned to France by the Treaty of Versailles. During World War II the federation supported the Free French. In the Fourth French Republic, French Equatorial Africa was given representation in the French parliament and in the assembly of the French Union. When the constituent territories voted (1958) to become autonomous republics within the French Community, the federation was dissolved. In 1959 the new republics formed a loose association called the Union of Central African Republics, and in 1960 they became fully independent republics within the French Community.
| WordNet: French Congo |
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
a republic in west-central Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960
Synonym: Republic of the Congo
| Wikipedia: French Equatorial Africa |
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French Equatorial Africa (French: Afrique équatoriale française) or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.
Established in 1910, the federation contained four territories — Gabon, Middle Congo (now the Republic of the Congo), Oubangui-Chari (or Ubangi-Shari, now the Central African Republic) and Chad, although the last was not organized as a separate entity until 1920. The governor-general was based in Brazzaville with deputies in each territory.
In 1911 France ceded parts of the territory to German Kamerun as a result of the Agadir Crisis. The territory was returned after Germany's defeat in World War I, while Cameroun proper became a French League of Nations mandate not integrated into the AEF.
During World War II the federation rallied to the Free French Forces under Félix Éboué (August 1940, except for Gabon which was Vichy French between 16 June 1940 and 12 November 1940) and became the centre for their activities in Africa.
Under France's Fourth Republic (1946–58), the federation was represented in the French parliament. When the territories voted in the September 1958 referendum to become autonomous within the French Community, the federation was dissolved. In 1959 the new republics formed an interim association called the Union of Central African Republics, before becoming fully independent in August 1960.
Postage stamps
The postal administrations of the four territories were separate until 1936, each issuing its own stamps. In that year, stamps of Gabon and Middle Congo were overprinted AFRIQUE / ÉQUATORIALE / FRANÇAISE. A definitive series for the colony followed in 1937, featuring local scenes and key (French) figures in the formation of the colony, with various colour and value changes each year through 1940.
The 1937 series was overprinted AFRIQUE FRANÇAISE / LIBRE or just LIBRE in 1940 by the Free French, and in 1941 they issued a series depicting a phoenix rising from the flames.
A new definitive series, featuring local scenery and people, was issued in 1946, and another twenty-odd stamps came out during the 1950s, with the last being the omnibus Human Rights issue on 10 December 1958.
See also
References
- Pakenham, Thomas (1991) The scramble for Africa, 1876-1912, London : Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 738 p., ISBN 0-29-781130-4
- Petringa, Maria (2006) Brazzà, A Life for Africa, Milton Keynes : AuthorHouse, 276 p., ISBN 1-4259-1198-6
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 | French Congo |
| Chad (country of north-central Africa) |
| Gabon (country of west-central Africa) |
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more |
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| WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- French Congo
- Chad (country of north-central Africa)
- Gabon (country of west-central Africa)
- Bangui
- Central African Republic
- Congo (country of west-central Africa)
- David Dacko (Central African president)
- Félix Adolphe Eboué (French statesman)
- Libreville (capital, Gabon)
- Brazzaville
- Cameroons (former German colony)
- Albert Schweitzer (1957 Culture & Society Film)
- Croix Du Sud (1932 Drama Film)
- The Roots of Heaven (1958 Adventure Film)
